Some errors in walking directions. Gaps in public transit information.

Bottom Line

The Here Maps app is easy to use, with accurate GPS driving directions, but it needs improvement when it comes to walking and public transit.

Here Maps is a free GPS app owned by Nokia and preloaded on most Windows phones, though versions are now available for Android and iOS devices as well. Where Here has an edge, at least for now, is that in addition to navigation and traffic, it offers offline maps. You also get pedestrian and transit navigation, but I found errors in my tests while on foot and missing information for public transit. Here is a fine supplement to Google Maps (which is slowly rolling out offline maps, starting with Android), but not a replacement.

Interface and Points of InterestI tested the iOS verison of Here. When you first start up the app, it asks to send notifications about updates, badges, and other information; you can opt out. Then you have to create an account by providing your name, date of birth, email, and creating a password. You can also choose to login via Facebook. Once logged in, Here goes through a quick walkthrough of the app, which is helpful. Settings are available in the main menu, where you can turn voice guidance on and off, download alternate voices, and enable speed alerts, among other options.

Searching is easy; you can just input the address or business name in the search box, rather than specifying the city up front. Like with Google Maps, you can search the whole map from one place, rather than visiting different databases or browsing categories. Here was able to find most destinations I looked for, including local grocery stores, restaurants, and museums. Also like Google, you can view different map overlays, including satellite, transit, and traffic.

Car Navigation In my driving tests, Here got me to Fairway Market in Harlem accurately, unlike Apple Maps and TomTom, both of which sent me sailing past the store on a nearby highway. On one route, the app started recalculating even though I made the correct turn, but navigation was otherwise solid. When I did make a wrong turn, recalculation was fast and easy to understand.

I like that when you search for a destination, the app brings up all available options, so you can decide whether you want to drive, walk, or take public transit. I prefer this rather than having to dig into the settings to get anything other than driving directions.

The real selling point of this app is that you can access maps and turn-by-turn navigation even when you're offline. Depending on how long you've been offline, you won't have access to updates or transit schedules, but you can still get around. This feature worked well in my tests. You just have to download the maps and enable it before you go offline.

Transit and Pedestrian Navigation Transit navigation is nice to see, though Here is missing a few details when it comes to New York City and New Jersey Transit. For instance, when I navigated to Fort Lee, which is accessible by bus, Here found only driving routes. It also didn't know that you can walk across the bridge, something that Apple Maps and CoPilot also missed. In addition, when I searched for a theater on Staten Island, I was also only able to get driving directions, even though you can take a ferry from downtown Manhattan. On the other hand, I was able to get accurate transit directions to a café and a grocery store, both a few miles away, and to locations on Long Island.

On foot, I ran into some issues. As with CoPilot, when I navigated to a restaurant in Harlem, I was directed to a route that eventually loses its sidewalk and strands you on a busy street with no crosswalks. I've actually walked this way before, but there's no way I would send someone unfamiliar with the area in that direction. Plus, as far as I can tell, it's just as fast to take a different route that's completely pedestrian-friendly.

Here and Now Here Maps has a nice clean interface and keeps thing simple. When driving, navigation is reliable and accurate, and the ability to access offline maps is a key feature, at least until Google Maps offers it as well. However, if you need to travel by transit or on foot, you may find yourself going out of your way, or on less-than-friendly stretches of road. For those occasions, I'd stick with Google.

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About the Author

Molly K. McLaughlin is a New York-based writer and editor with more than a decade of experience covering technology. She has tested and reviewed all sorts of software, mobile apps, and gadgets. Before launching her freelance business, she was an editor at PC Magazine, covering consumer electronics, followed by a stint at ConsumerSearch.com, a revie... See Full Bio

Here Maps (for iPhone)

Here Maps (for iPhone)

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